The History of Forensic Science

Chinese Fingerprinting

300 BCE

Paving the way for modern forensic science fingerprinting and cases such as the Jenning's trial, the Chinese used fingerprinting in prehistoric times. They began by using fingerprints to mark their clay work and for business transactions, as well as to identify their children. In the year 650, the Chinese historian, Kia Kung-Yen, discovered that fingerprints could be used as a means of authentication.

Forensic Toxicology

1814

Mathieu Orfilla of Spain is known as the father of forensic toxicology. Forensic toxicology tests certain things like bodily fluids and tissue samples to identify specific drugs or chemicals present in the body. This was a huge step in the world of forensics as it dramatically helped scientists understand the details of a crime and be able to piece together what happened.

The Polarized Light Microscope

1815

Credited to David Brewster, the polarized light microscope became a crucial piece of technology for forensic scientists. These microscopes allowed for the identification of trace evidence found at crime scenes, such as fibers, hairs, paints, and glass fragments without showing any unwanted shadows or reflections, which helped to catch criminals.

Crime Scene Photography

1864

Alphonse Bertillon is said to be the first forensic photographer. Crime scene photography, which is simply taking pictures of the crime scene, provides an accurate record of the scene and the physical evidence present, which could be used against a criminal.

Anthropometry

1879

Alphonse Bertillon created the identification system known as anthropometry. This refers to the study of human body measurements and the dimensions of the human body and skeleton. Anthropometric data is incredibly useful in the world of forensics as it can be used to estimate gender, ethnicity, age at the time of death, body weight, height, cause of death, etc.

Sherlock Holmes

1887

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a well-known author, created the character, Sherlock Holmes. Due to his strong use of evidence in areas such as fingerprints, footprints, trace evidence, etc. the modern world was influenced by his work. Police forces began to use his methods and he is credited as an important factor in the creation and development of forensic science.

Fingerprint Identification

1896

Edmond Locard created the 12-point fingerprint method that is still used today. It states that if two sets of fingerprints have 12 matching points, it can be deemed to be the same individual. This method of fingerprint identification has remained essential for identifying criminals for centuries.

ABO blood typing

1901

ABO blood typing, which was discovered by Karl Landsteiner and represents the discovery of blood groups, brought in a new tool to forensic science. This allowed for scientists to analyze blood evidence left at the scene of a crime and link it to a suspect.

The FBI

1905

The American president, Theodore Roosevelt, established the Federal Bureau of Investigation, more commonly known as the FBI. In terms of forensics, the FBI provides a variety of services. Crime scene documentation, evidence and hazardous evidence response, and investigative/forensic photography and imaging support are just a few examples of their duties.

LAPD Crime Lab

1923

The Los Angeles Police Department created the first crime lab in the US in 1923. The creation of crime labs was tremendously beneficial for forensic science. They use tools and technology to quickly and efficiently analyze forensic evidence and samples, which is critical for not only expanding forensic knowledge but also in the criminal justice system.